Teen-twentieths to herman horlbeok



me Model.)

A A. JOHNSTON.

MAIL BAG.-

Platented Deo. 29, H1896( w. C/ooooooooooooos ooogooo/OVS 64mm@ gg.lfi-Ei UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER JOHNSTON, JERSEY O ITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF SEVEN-TEEN-TVVENTIETHS TO HERMAN HORLBEOK, EDWARD KELLY, GEORGE B. FIELDER,AND ADOLPH R. BRAUNSTEIN, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 574,064, datedDecember 29, 1896. Application filed August l, 1895. Serial No. 557,916.(No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Jersey City, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail-Bags, of which thefollowing' is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a mail-bag which can berapidly opened and closed.

The invention consists in providing a mailbag with a turning and slidinghasp, a haspcheck holder, and an inclined staple.

Figure l shows the inail-bag opened and the hasp drawn. Fig. 2represents the mail-` bag closed and the hasp in place ready to belocked. Fig. 3 is an edge View of the hasp removed I" rom the mail-bag.Fig. 4 is a vcrtical sectional view of Fig. l on line Q94 004,representing the Inail-bag as opened. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalView of Fig. 2 on line a a, representing the Inail-bag as 4closed. Fig.G is a horizontal sectional view of Fig. 2 on line showing the ha'sp andlock-staple when ready to lock. Fig. 7 is a cross-sec' tional View ofthe hasp as shown in Fig. 2, line no' m'. Fig. 8 is a top View of thehaspswivel1 and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the haspsswivel andfastenings securing the hasp-swivel to the bag.

A in'the several figures represents part of an ordinary leather bag for`holding mailmatter whi le being transferred from one postofce orstation to another. The bag is of ordinary construction, being made offibrous material and having one side A', Figs. l and 4, at its open endlonger than the other, which is folded` over upon the short side whenthe mailbag is closed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

A2 A2, Fig. l, are longitudinal staple-holes cut through both sides ofthe bag at or near the top opposite each other, as shown in Figs. 4: and5, which allow the staples By to pass through when the lap A is folded,as shown in Fig. 5.

A5, Fig. l, are horizontal staple-holes cut through both sides oppositeeach otherv and in the same line as holes A2.

B B', Figs. 2, 4, and 5, are V-formed sta- .ples having tenons B2, andare secured to the lap A of the bag by washers B and B3, as shown inFig. 4E.

O, Fig. 6, is a staple secured to the lap A' of the bag by plates C2 andO2 and is set horizontal to iit the holes A5, as shown in Fig. 2. Theinner side of this staple forms an incline plane C', Fig. 6, whichstarts at alower level than the bent-up end D2 of the hasp D. By thisarrangement the hasp when pushed through the several staples Bautomatically slides along the inclined surface O6 until the hole D ofthe hasp permits it to drop down in position, asgshown in Fig. 6, readyfor the lock.

D in the several figures is a sliding' and pivotedhasp made frommaterial of sufcient stiffness to be pushed through the several stapleswhile being held by the metal tip D2. By lthis construction the slow andtedious process of lacing from staple to staple, as in old methods, isavoided. This hasp is bound with metal tips D4 and DB. The tip D4 isbent up at D2, which enables `the hasp to slide upon the staple, asshown in Figs. 3 and 6. The lug vD3 prevents the hasp from being drawnout of the hasp guide or swivel The tip D8 is provided with a check-lugD, which comes in contact with the swivel-guide H2 at H2, Fig. S, andprevents the hasp from going too far. The hasp is also provided with arecess D7, Figs. 2and 7, in which is placed a card designating thepostofiice or station to which the bag is to be delivered. The card `isput in place by slipping it under the band D, as shownby the curved anddotted line D10, Fig. In order that the card may be more iirlnly held inplace, I convex the hasp immediately under the opening or recess D2, asshown in Fig. 7. Y

H and H7 are plates secured to the bag A by rivets HG, Fig. 9, andsupport the haspguide H2 by means of the pivot H' and washer H2. Thehasp-guide H2 is adjustably held and is formed with a mortise H4,through which the hasp D passes or slides when the bag is fastened orunfastened.

H5, Figs. 2, 8, and, 9, is a hasp-guide pin which stops the hasp-guideand brings the hasp in line With the staples B when it is swung aroundfrom its vertical position, as

IOO

shown in Fig. l, to a parallel line with the staples, as in Fig. 2.

The closing and opening of the bag is as follows: The lap A is folded online x2 002, Fig. l, around until the staples pass through the cuts A2and A5, as shown in Fig. 5. rlhe hasp D is then swung from. its verticalposition, as in Fig. l, to the right and slid into the staples B' andover the inclined staple C, as shown in Figs. 2 and G. The hasp is thenlocked. The openin is down by lifting the hasp off the staple C anddrawing it out of the staples B and swinging it around out of the Way,as shown in Fig. l.

I make the trimmings out of aluminium, as by so doing a large amount ofweightis saved in transportation, as the aluminium is three times aslight as any other metal that could be used, thereby saving the usersannually a large amount.

Having thus full y described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A mail-bag provided with the slots A2 and A5, the staples B forholding the hasp D,

the staple C having one edge C inclined and the said staple C set atright angles to the staples B,'in combination with the sliding hasp Dhaving a curved tip D2 as and for the purpose described.

2. A mail-bag provided with the slots A2 and A, the staples B forholding the hasp D, the staple C having one edge C inclined and the saidstaple O set at right angles to the staples B', in combination AWith thepivoted and sliding hasp D as and for the purpose described.

A mail-bag provided with the staple B' and staple C in combination withthe sliding and turning hasp having and being held in place by thehasp-guide Il.2 as and for the purpose described.

4. A mailebag provided with the slots A2 and A5 the staple B staple Cand stop-pin IIT in combination with the pivoted and sliding hasp Dhaving and being heldin place by the hasp-guide I-I2 the said hasp-guidebeing prevented from turning too far by the pin II", as and for thepurpose described.

5. A mail-bag provided with the slots A2 and A5 the staple B' and stapleC having in.- elined Wall C in combination with the hasp D having recessD7, and the turning hasp-guide I-l2 as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two Witnesses, this 12th day of July, 1895.

ABNER JOHNSTON. lVitnesses:

T. THoMAs, L. HnNsnL.

